The Mystery of the Pool of Bethesda Through Gratitude and Healing

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Second Edition

Gospel of John 5:1–15 Gratitude

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, which in Hebrew is called Bethesda. It has five colonnades, and in these lay a great multitude of sick people: blind, lame, paralyzed. They were waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel of the Lord went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water. Whoever first stepped into the stirring of the water was made well, whatever disease he had.

A man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him lying on a mat and knew that he had been sick for a long time. Jesus said to him, “Do you want to get well?” The sick man answered, “Sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred up. Whenever I try to get there, someone else steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your mat and walk.” Immediately the man became well, picked up his mat and walked.

But that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” The man answered them, “The one who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’” Then the Jews asked him, “Who is the man who told you to take up your mat and walk?” But the man who had been cured did not know who it was, for Jesus had already slipped away into the crowd. Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “You are well; sin no more, so that a worse thing may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jews that Jesus had made him well. (John 5:1–15 Second Edition)

Interesting Perspective

The Gospel tells of an incredible event at the Pool of Bethesda. This mystical site, located north of the eastern wall of Jerusalem, has raised questions for centuries. Archaeological excavations have revealed the pool with its colonnades, but its magic and power remain largely shrouded in mystery. There is much talk and argument surrounding the Pool of Bethesda, related to healing and the gratitude that goes with it.

Many people, including the blind and the paralyzed, believed in the miraculous power of the pool and gathered around it. The Gospel tells us that the first person to enter the water was healed. This raises the question: How can we understand this competition in which only one person wins?

The Stages of the Pool of Bethesda

The Pool of Bethesda has traditionally been a place where the line between hope and despair has been blurred. According to the Bible, many people waited by the pool for healing. This place was not only a center for physical healing, but also a symbol of hope and a religious community.

Archaeological excavations have shown that the pool was surrounded by colonnades where people could rest and wait their turn. This speaks to how important a place it was: it attracted people hoping to regain their health and life.

Although we know that the healing power of the pool is controversial, it is important to consider how faith in this place influenced people's lives. For example, according to a 2013 study, 75% of people suffering from chronic illnesses have reported the liberating role of faith in their healing.

The Race for Healing

The race for healing is not just a physical struggle; it symbolizes despair and hope. The biblical story suggests that people were willing to do anything to be healed. Location or the power of appealing to other people was not as important as their willingness to believe in a miracle.

We can ask: how did people respond to prayer and their hope? Were they afraid and desperate, or did they still believe that God could heal them? This question is central when looking at our deeper selves and spiritual state.

Jesus’ Healing

When Jesus encountered the man who needed healing, He did not question the power of the pool or the competition of people. Instead, Jesus used His power and authority to heal this man who had been suffering for 38 years. Jesus’ command to “Rise, take up your bed, and walk” is a powerful statement that signifies both physical healing and spiritual renewal.

When the man stood up for the first time in decades, we can only imagine his gratitude. It seems like such moments are rare, but they can be possible for all of us. The gratitude that enabled him to encounter freedom is more powerful than ever.

When the healed man encountered Jesus again in the temple, he must have felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Gratitude is not just a word, it is a powerfully transforming emotion that affects our relationships with the world and with other people.

What does gratitude mean in the context of this story? It is not just the ability to recognize the help we have received, it is also an attitude of the heart. This changes us spiritually and personally. The mystery and story of the Pool of Bethesda offers us an opportunity to explore our own gratitude. How can we be grateful? Can gratitude arise in difficult times?

Bethesda and the present day

Today, we may not have pools where we believe in healing, but the story of the Pool of Bethesda lives on. It encourages us to seek healing in our spiritual and physical challenges. Today, many of us struggle with our own challenges: 80% of people report experiencing stress and anxiety, which hinders mental well-being.

This story can inspire us to seek God’s strength and healing in the challenges of our lives. We must ask ourselves if we can find peace in places like the Pool of Bethesda. Can we believe in gratitude and hope, or are we just being cynical?

The mystery of the Pool of Bethesda is still relevant and its story resonates with us. It reminds us how we can find gratitude and repentance in the deep foundations of faith. The encounter with Jesus at the moment of healing was a significant turning point in both the man’s life and the entire biblical narrative.

A question for you, readers: What is your own “Bethesda”—a place where you hope for healing or change? What makes you feel grateful for God’s work in your life, even when it seems evil or hopeless? Pause for a moment to listen to what God is saying to you today, and remember the story of the Pool of Bethesda—a reminder to us all of the power of faith.